Cake protector

ABSTRACT

A cake protector with cake region defined by a vertical cake region wall resting on the surface and a horizontal cover. A candle region above the cover is defined by the cover and a candle region wall. In one configuration, the cake region wall, cover, and candle region wall are a unitary component. In another configuration, the cake region wall is a unitary component, and the cover and candle region wall is a separate unitary component that sits in an annular groove in the top of the cake region wall. A lid is attached to the candle region wall by a hinge such that the lid pivots between an open position, where the lid allows access to the candle region, and a closed position, where the lid encloses the candle region. The hinge is detachable or not. The lid has holes for candles that rest on the cover.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO A SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTINGCOMPACT DISK APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to cake covers, more particularly, tocovers that protect the cake and hold candles.

2. Description of the Related Art

A traditional practice associated with birthdays is blowing out candleson a birthday cake. When the celebrant blows out the candles,microscopic droplets of saliva and other contents of the mouth end up onthe cake, a most unsanitary condition. Further, as the candles melt,they deposit wax on the cake.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a cake protector that shields a cake or otherbaked confection from saliva and food particles. The protector has acake region defined by a single vertical cake region wall. The bottomedge of the cake region wall rests on the surface on which the cakesits. Optionally, that surface is a tray with an optional mechanism forsecuring the cake region wall to the tray. A horizontal cover is on topof the cake region wall and fully encloses the cake region. A candleregion is above the cover and defined by the cover as the floor and asingle candle region wall extending upwardly from and around the entireperimeter of the cover. A horizontal lid sits on the candle region wall,fully enclosing the candle region.

In a first configuration of the cake protector, the cake region wall,cover, and candle region wall are a unitary component. In a secondconfiguration, the cake region wall is a unitary component, and thecover and candle region wall is a separate unitary component. The coversits within an annular groove in the top of the cake region wall.

The lid is attached to the top edge of the candle region wall by a hingethat allows the lid to pivot between an open position, where the lid isat least vertical to allow access to the candle region, and a closedposition, where the lid sits on top of the candle region wall or in anannular groove on the top of the wall.

In one configuration, the hinge is detachable, many of which are knownin the art and can be employed. In one example, the outer bearingsurface of the hinge is a cylinder is attached horizontally to the topedge of the candle region wall and the inner bearing surface is atubular groove in the edge of the lid. A slot in the wall of the grooveextends just over 180° of the circumference of the groove, giving thegroove a C shape in cross-section. In a snap configuration, the cylinderhas a round cross-section and the hinge is assembled by pushing the slotonto the cylinder until it snaps together. In an eccentricconfiguration, the cylinder has an oval cross-section. The hinge isassembled by aligning the slot with the narrow portion of the cylinderand installing the groove over the cylinder. When the lid is pivotedabout the cylinder, the slot no longer aligns with the narrow portionand the cylinder is captured within the groove, thereby attaching thelid.

In another configuration, the hinge is not detachable. Any adequatenondetachable hinge structure can be employed. One example is a livinghinge.

The lid has vertical through holes for candles or other decorations. Thecandles or decorations extend through the holes and rest on the cover.In one configuration, the lid includes holes of a variety of sizes toaccommodate candles of different sizes. In another configuration, thereare several different lids, each with holes that are the same size. Theappropriate lid is used for the size of the candles. Optionally, thecover has cups vertically aligned with the holes to aid in holding thecandles vertical and/or stable.

An optional element for the cake protector 10 is an extension thatextends the area of the lid to add more candles or other decorations.The extension has essentially the same construction as the combinationof cover, lid, and candle region wall of the configuration where thecover and candle region wall is a unitary component. The extension isattached to the protector by a flange extending from the extension wallthat overlaps a flange extending from the candle region wall, withfasteners extending through holes in the flanges. An optional bracekeeps the extension lid aligned with the protector lid.

Objects of the present invention will become apparent in light of thefollowing drawings and detailed description of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of the nature and object of the presentinvention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the cake protector of the presentinvention for a round cake;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cake protector of the presentinvention for a rectangular cake;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the cake protector with aunitary cover and a first configuration of the lid and enclosure topedge in the closed position;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view of the cake protector with aunitary cover and the first configuration of the lid and enclosure topedge in the open position;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side view of the cake protector with aremovable cover and the first configuration of the lid and enclosure topedge in the open position;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional, detail view of a second configuration ofthe lid and enclosure top edge in the closed position;

FIG. 7 is a side view of a configuration of the hinge taken at A-A ofFIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional end view of the snap configuration of thehinge taken at B-B of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional end view of the eccentric configuration ofthe hinge taken at B-B of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional end view of the living hinge configuration;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional side view of an internal cylindrical cup;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional side view of an internal conical cup;

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional side view of an external cylindrical cup;

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional side view of an external conical cup;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the cake protector extension; and

FIG. 16 is a side view of the extension attached to the cake protector.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a cake protector 10 that shields a cake orother baked confection from saliva and food particles. The term, cake,is used to refer to the food item that is to be protected by the cakeprotector 10.

The protector 10, shown in FIGS. 1-5, has a cake region 11 defined by agenerally vertical cake region wall 12. The cake region wall 12 is asingle wall that surrounds the cake region 11. The cake region wall 12can be any desired size and shape. The cake region wall 12 can bevertical, as in FIG. 3, can angle inwardly, as in FIG. 5, or canundulate with various curves as it rises. The phrase, “generallyvertical,” with reference to the cake region wall 12 is intended toencompass all of these possibilities.

The length, width, and height of the cake region wall 12 are determinedby the largest cake 2 for which the protector 10 is intended. The shapeof the cake region wall 12 does not have to match that of the cake 2.However, for esthetic reasons, it is preferred that the cake region wall12 be approximately the same shape as the cake 2. For example, if thecake 2 is round, it is preferred that the cake region wall 12 be round,as in FIG. 1. If the cake 2 is rectangular, it is preferred that thecake region wall 12 be rectangular, as in FIG. 2.

The bottom edge 22 of the cake region wall 12 rests on the surface 17 onwhich the cake 2 sits. Optionally, that surface 17 is a tray 18, asshown in FIG. 1. Optionally, the tray 18 and cake region wall 12 includea locking mechanism to secure the cake region wall 12 to the tray 18.There are a number of such mechanisms known in the art, and any suchmechanism can be employed by the cake protector 10 of the presentinvention. In an example of such a mechanism, a plurality of annularflanges on and spaced around the circumference of the bottom edge 22 ofthe cake region wall 12 are rotated into grooves on the tray 18. Inanother example mechanism, a flange on the bottom edge 22 of theenclosure snaps into a groove in the tray 18. An arm on the top of thegroove can be pushed downwardly to release the flange.

A generally horizontal cover 14 is on top of the cake region wall 12,fully enclosing the cake region 11. In the illustrated configurations,the cover 14 is flat. However, the present invention contemplates thatthe cover 14 can be convex so that the cake region 11 is domed. Thephrase, “generally horizontal,” is intended to include a domed cover 14.

The protector 10 has a candle region 15 above the cover 14 defined bythe cover 14 as the floor and a candle region wall 24 extending upwardlyfrom and around the entire perimeter of the cover 14. The candle regionwall 24 is a single wall that surrounds the candle region 15. As withthe cake region wall 12, the candle region wall 24 can be vertical, canangle inwardly or outwardly, or can undulate with various curves as itrises. The phrase, “generally vertical,” with reference to the candleregion wall 24 is intended to encompass all of these possibilities.

The candle region wall 24 has the same perimeter shape as the cakeregion wall 12, i.e., if the cake region wall 12 is round, the candleregion wall 24 is round, as in FIG. 1, and if the cake region wall 12 isrectangular, the candle region wall 24 is rectangular, as in FIG. 2.

A generally horizontal lid 16 sits on the top edge 26 of the candleregion wall 24, fully enclosing the candle region 15.

The present invention contemplates different configurations of theprotector 10.

In a first configuration, shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the cake region wall12, the cover 14, and the candle region wall 24 are a unitary component.In this configuration, the cake region wall 12, the cover 14, and thecandle region wall 24 may be formed from a single mold.

In a second configuration of the protector 10, shown in FIG. 5, the cakeregion wall 12 is a unitary component and the cover 14 and candle regionwall 24 is a separate unitary component. The cover 14 is sized to sitwithin an annular groove 60 in the cake region wall top edge 62.

The lid 16 is attached to the top edge 26 of the candle region wall 24by a hinge 40. The hinge 40 allows the lid 16 to pivot between an openposition 32 and a closed position 30. In the open position 32, the lid16 can be pivoted to at least vertical to provide access to the topsurface 34 of the cover 14, as in FIGS. 4 and 5. Access to the cover 14facilitates cleaning of the cover 14, particularly from melted wax.

When in the closed position 30, the lid 16 sits on the top edge 26 ofthe candle region wall 24. The lid 16 is sized to rest on the candleregion wall top edge 26, as in FIG. 3, or to rest within an annulargroove 28 in the candle region wall top edge 26, as in FIG. 6.

The height of the gap 38 between the cover 14 and lid 16 is determinedby the closed position 30 of the lid 16. The gap height is either theheight of the candle region wall 24 from the cover 14, as in FIG. 3, orthe distance between the bottom of the groove 28 and the cover 14, as inFIG. 6. The height of the gap 38 will typically, be in the range ofabout 0.5″ to 1″.

In one configuration, the hinge 40 is detachable. Detachable hinges arewell-known in the art and the present invention contemplates that anyadequate detachable hinge structure can be employed. In an example ofsuch a hinge 40, shown in FIGS. 7-9, a cylinder 42 is attachedhorizontally to the candle region wall top edge 26 by a pair of arms 44.The surface 50 of the cylinder 42 operates as a convex bearing surface.The edge 36 of the lid 16 has a tubular groove 46, the inner surface 52of which operates as a concave bearing surface. A slot 48 in the wall ofthe groove 46 extends between the ends of the groove 46 and around justover 180° of the circumference of the groove 46, giving the groove 46 aC shape in cross-section, as in FIGS. 8 and 9.

In a snap configuration, shown in FIG. 8, the cylinder 42 has a roundcross-section. The hinge 40 is assembled by pushing the slot 48 onto thecylinder 42. The lid material is slightly flexible so the slot 48expands to the diameter of the cylinder 42 as it is being pushed ontothe cylinder 42. Once the cylinder 42 has passed into the groove 46, thegroove 46 resumes its quiescent shape, thereby attaching the lid 16 tothe candle region wall 24. The groove 46 pivots about the cylinder 42.To remove the lid 16, the groove 46 is pulled away from the cylinder 42through the slot 48.

In an eccentric configuration, shown in FIG. 9, the cylinder 42 has anoval cross-section. The narrow portion 54 is small enough to fit intothe slot 48 and the wide portion 56 is the same as the diameter of theinner surface 52 of the groove 46. The hinge 40 is assembled by aligningthe slot 48 with the narrow portion 54 and installing the groove 46 overthe cylinder 42. When the lid 16 is pivoted about the cylinder 42 andthe slot 48 no longer aligns with the narrow portion 50, the cylinder 42is captured within the groove 46 and the lid 16 is attached to thecandle region wall 24. To remove the lid 16, the lid 16 is pivoted untilthe slot 48 is aligned with the narrow portion 54 and the groove 46 ispulled away from the cylinder 42 through the slot 48.

In another configuration, the hinge 40 is not detachable. Any adequatenondetachable hinge structure can be employed. One example is a livinghinge where the candle region wall 24 and lid 16 are connected by a thinsheet 66 of the same material from which they are made, as in FIG. 10.The sheet 66 extends from the outside of the candle region wall 24 tothe edge 36 of the lid 16. The hinge sheet 66 is thin enough that itbends easily but does not break.

The lid 16 has vertical through holes 70 for candles 4 or otherdecorations. The candles 4 or decorations extend through the holes 70and rest on the cover 14.

If the holes 70 are sized to accommodate candles 4 of most sizes, theholes 70 would be relatively large and smaller candles 4 would lean atan angle rather than standing vertically. Depending on the sizes of thehole 70, candle 4, and the gap 38 between the cover 14 and lid 16, theangle of lean can be substantial. The present invention contemplatesseveral different configurations for solving this problem.

In one configuration, the lid 16 includes holes 70 of a variety of sizesto accommodate candles 4 of different sizes. This configuration willonly work for a small number of candles 4 of the same size.

In another configuration, there are several different lids 16. All ofthe holes 70 in a lid 16 are the same size and each lid 16 has differentsize holes 70. In all the configurations of the protector 10 describedabove, the lid 16 is replaceable. When candles 4 of a different size areto be used, the lid 16 is replaced by one with holes 70 of theappropriate size.

Optionally, the cover 14 has cups 72 vertically aligned with the holes70 to aid in holding the candles 4 vertical and/or stable. The cups 72can be depressions in the cover top surface 34, as in FIGS. 11 and 12,or can be on top of the cover top surface 34, as in FIGS. 13 and 14. Theinside 74 of the cups 72 can be cylindrical, as in FIGS. 11 and 13, orconical, as in FIGS. 12 and 14. The conical cups are self-centering,that is, the candle 4 will be centered in the cup 72.

An optional element for the cake protector 10 is an extension 80, shownin FIG. 15. The extension 80 extends the area of the lid 16 in order toadd more candles or other decorations to the protector 10. The extension80 has essentially the same construction as the configuration of thecover 14, lid 16, and candle region wall 24 of FIG. 5. An extensionfloor 82 provides the base for the candles 4. An extension wall 84encloses the extension 80. An extension lid 86 covers the extension 80and is attached to the extension wall 84 by a hinge 87 having the samestructure as the lid hinge 40.

As seen in FIG. 16, the extension 80 is attached to the protector 10 bya pair of flanges and a fastener. A flange 88 extends perpendicularlyfrom the extension wall 84 and overlaps a flange 90 extendingperpendicularly from the candle region wall 24. One or more fasteners 92extend through holes 94 in the extension flange 88 and holes 96 in theprotector flange 90. The fasteners 92 can take whatever form isappropriate, such as threaded fasteners or press-fit fasteners.

An optional extension brace 98 extends perpendicularly from the bottomof the extension wall 84. The brace 98 abuts the candle region wall 24to keep the extension lid 86 aligned with the protector lid 16.

The components are composed of a substantially rigid plastic that ispreferably clear. Optionally, all or some of the components are tinted.Preferably, the plastic is resistant to fire from the candles in theevent that that the candle is allowed to burn too long. The optionaltray 18 is also composed of a substantially rigid plastic and has nocolor preference.

Thus, it has been shown and described a cake protector. Since certainchanges may be made in the present disclosure without departing from thescope of the present invention, it is intended that all matter describedin the foregoing specification and shown in the accompanying drawings beinterpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A cake protector comprising: (a) agenerally vertical cake region wall adapted to sit on a horizontalsurface and defining a cake region; (b) a generally horizontal cover ontop of the cake region wall enclosing the cake region; (c) a generallyvertical candle region wall extending upwardly from the cover anddefining a candle region above the cover; (d) a lid attached to thecandle region wall by a living hinge, the lid having a closed positionwherein the lid is sitting on the candle region wall, thereby enclosingthe candle region, and the lid having an open position wherein thecandle region is accessible; and (e) a plurality of through holes in thelid.
 2. The cake protector of claim 1 wherein the cake region wall,cover, and candle region wall are a unitary component.
 3. The cakeprotector of claim 1 wherein the cake region wall has an upper edge withan annular groove, the cover and candle region wall are a unitarycomponent, and the cover sits within the annular groove.
 4. The cakeprotector of claim 1 wherein the horizontal surface is on a tray.
 5. Thecake protector of claim 1 wherein the cover has cups aligned with thethrough holes.